Eliana Willis

Whether you’re looking for a tough tablet that can handle toddlers or on-site workers, there are plenty of rugged tablets. And just because they’re rugged, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a heavy, bulky device. The best rugged tablets from Samsung and other brands offer the same military standard protection against drops, shocks, and moisture while offering a thinner, sleeker profile. While working in the field, a bright screen and robust battery are just as important in a tablet as a rugged chassis. Each of the top tablets we tested was chosen because it offered a great balance between protection, battery life, and ease of use, and we found the most durable tablet to be the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5. What is the best rugged tablet right now?My full-time job as a naval architect is rather unique and offers me the opportunity to get out into shipyards filled with sand, dirt, oil, and more elements that can destroy typical tablets like an iPad More

The $340 Kindle Scribe combines a digital library with a digital notebook. You can use the basic pen to create notes either through an app or on the book you’re reading, making it convenient if you’re studying for a test and want to organize what you’re reading and your notes in one place. Additionally, you can upgrade to the Kindle Scribe Premium Pen to easily erase notes.The display is remarkable, with a high-resolution 10.2-inch screen. You’ll also have access to ample storage options, and the battery life will let you read the next bestseller without worrying about finding the nearest plug for charging. Review: Amazon Kindle ScribeWhen Matthew Miller reviewed the Scribe last year, he called it his on-the-go note-taking tablet of choice. “My desire to find something that doesn’t waste paper and also provides the ability to preserve and share my notes has been met with the Amazon Kindle Scribe,” Miller said. He adds that the writing and erasing capabilities are top-tier, too, especially with the add-on Premium Pen. One Scribe owner on Reddit said that the wider screen is “a joy to read on,” while other Redditors reported that the writing software is “half-baked” with minimal note-taking capabilities. So, if you’re looking for a Kindle with a great screen and some beginner note-taking options, this one is for you. Also: Best tablets for school in 2025There is certainly room for improvement. Currently, you can export notes to a PDF and email them. However, sending notes to other programs like Microsoft Word would be ideal, as it will be part of a future software update. Additionally, we found that organizing your notes on the Kindle Scribe is impossible. Overall, it’s an excellent foray into the digital note-taking market, and with future software updates, it should become one of the more popular models in the Kindle lineup.Kindle Scribe specs: Screen size: 10.2 inches | Storage: 16, 32, or 64GB | Battery life: Up to 6 weeks at 30 minutes per day | Lock screen ads: Yes, removable with fee | microSD card support: No More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETSmartwatches are a gym-goer’s best friend. These devices actively track your fitness activity, collect health data for future analysis, and even control music streaming apps from your wrist. Many solid options exist on the market, but which wearable should you get?Should you splurge and buy a really expensive Garman watch? You could, but I recommend opting for the Galaxy Watch FE More

Nina Raemont/ZDNETWhat’s the deal? As part of a new Presidents’ Day sale, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds are now $229 More

TCL’s 2024 QM8 photographed in the ZDNET testing lab. Adam Breeden/ZDNETLast year’s TCL QM8 More

Taylor Clemons/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?The Hisense U8N More

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETAI has enabled a big leap forward for voice assistants, and as a result, many companies have released their own versions, including ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, Google’s Gemini Live, and Microsoft’s Copilot Voice. Microsoft’s offering just got an update, giving it more of a competitive edge. Also: Gemini Live just got much easier to talk to – here’s howOn Thursday, Microsoft launched updates to Copilot Voice including voices in 40 new languages and improved real-time information when chatting with the AI. Together, these updates will allow users to experience a more seamless and helpful conversation.Copilot Voice, unveiled in October, can be interrupted to engage in multi-turn conversations and respond to your emotions. Starting a conversation in the app is as easy as clicking the microphone button, and you can select from four voices and different voice speeds. The biggest perk? It is free for all users. In terms of features, I have tested Gemini Live, ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, and Gemini Live extensively, and, they are very similar in performance. The latest Copilot Voice updates bring it more on par with its competitors. You’ll find any of them to be a major step up from traditional voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. Which one you should select really depends on which chatbot you’re already using, and how much you’re willing to pay. Also: Are ChatGPT Plus or Pro worth it? Here’s how they compare to the free versionTo access OpenAI’s counterpart, ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, you need to become a subscriber, which costs at least $20 per month on ChatGPT Plus. However, if you are a ChatGPT power user, the subscription makes sense because you get access to OpenAI’s latest offerings, including Sora, o3-mini-high, and o1.Gemini Live is free, but like Copilot Voice, it requires you to download the app. Therefore, choosing between the two is mostly a matter of which chatbot and interface you like better. In my testing, all three experiences were very similar.  More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Roborock Flexi Lite is available for $400 This vacuum and mop can tackle wet and dry messes, juice spills, pet hair, and more; it’s also self-cleaning, so you only have to empty the dirty water and add clean water The Roborock Flexi Lite seems only to mop when pulled back, […] More